Langley Bread Distribution

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The annual St Ives tradition of the Langley Bread distribution will be upheld on Wednesday 14th January 2026, at St Ives Corn Exchange. 100 grocery bags comprising bread, jam, teabags, sugar and biscuits will be distributed.

Those wishing to take part should be in the Charter Hall of the Corn Exchange by 10.00 am. Eligible recipients are widows and widowers who are on the electoral register for St Ives.

The origins of this cherished, centuries old tradition will be explained briefly by the Mayor, Councillor Kerr after which the distribution will take place.

In 1656 Robert Langley, a prominent and philanthropic St Ives man, left money in his Will so that 40 Shillings could be distributed each year on a day in January to the poor widows and fatherless children of St Ives.

After 1860 parcels of bread instead of money were distributed and to widowers as well as to widows. And since 1990 the parcels of bread were replaced by a grocery bag of bread, butter, jam, teabags, sugar; in 2005 biscuits were added.

The bags will be handed to widows and widowers attending the event but also to relatives and friends of qualifying residents who are unable to attend in person.

The event is organised by the St Ives United Charities Trust. The United Charities also provide the money for the Bibles at the annual Bible Dicing ceremony that is held in the Parish Church on the first Tuesday of Whitsuntide.

Robert Langley also left money in his Will for the bell ringers of the Parish Church to ring a peel of bells each year in January. Legend has it that he became lost in a snowstorm one day on Hemingford Meadow, while walking to St Ives. He heard the bells of the Parish Church and they guided him to safety.

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Dates

The event runs from 10:00 to 11:00 on the following dates.
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